Some travel warnings lifted Holidays planned? Here’s what you need to know for Europe

Bonn · There is still hope for the long awaited summer holidays. The travel warning for EU countries has been lifted and Italy is opening its borders. But what do you need to know about your destination now?

 Athens has announced its intention to restart tourism from abroad. Photo: dpa/Lefteris Partsalis

Athens has announced its intention to restart tourism from abroad. Photo: dpa/Lefteris Partsalis

Foto: dpa/Lefteris Partsalis

For a long time a summer holiday outside Germany was on the brink of not happening. In mid-March the Federal Foreign Office announced a worldwide travel warning for all tourist trips abroad. This is now being lifted bit by bit. From 15 June, travel to 29 European countries will be possible again. This was decided by the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday. In Italy, the borders for tourists are open again.

Even though the lifting of the travel warning may sound like good news at first, holidaymakers will have to watch for a few special regulations. Normal tourist trips are not possible to all countries. The travel warning will be replaced by a „travel advice“, which is individual for each country and is constantly updated. "Travel warnings are not travel invitations", Maas continued to emphasise. A second wave of infection should be avoided in any case. There will also be no further recall operation. Those who travel do so on their own responsibility.

When can you go where again?

Belgium: So far the situation in Belgium is still unclear. Tourist trips are prohibited and restaurants and shops are closed. The Corona measures there are to remain in force until 8 June.

Bulgaria: Bulgaria is among the countries least affected by the corona pandemic. The country is preparing for the summer season, which is to start on 1 July at the latest.

Denmark: Hotels, holiday homes and campsites have been open since 18 May. From 15 June onwards, holidaymakers from Germany will also be allowed back in.

France: Holidays in France can also be expected from 15 June. Hotels, restaurants and swimming pools are open again and it should be possible to use the beaches in infection-free regions. The opening of accommodation in Paris is only planned for 22 June.

Greece: From 15 June, holidaymakers can travel to Athens by plane. Other airports are not to open again until 1 July. Entry by sea or by car is not possible for the time being. The restaurants and hotels can be used. According to the Foreign Office, travellers must expect to undergo a Covid-19 test until the end of June.

Great Britain: There are no uniform regulations in the various parts of the country. The government plans to introduce a two-week quarantine for all travellers entering the country from 8 June.

Ireland: After landing, each arriving person must remain in self-isolation for 14 days, i.e. continuously at the specified residential address without contact with others. On arrival, a Public Health Passenger Locator Form must be completed, indicating the address of residence in Ireland. It is possible the Irish authorities might check whether the self-isolation is obeyed. There are no travel restrictions for German nationals from the Irish side. It is therefore possible to leave the country. However, there is currently a very limited range of flights from Ireland to Germany, and the same applies to ferry services from Ireland.

Italy: Italy's borders have been open again since 3 June. Hotels and restaurants are available to holidaymakers and entry via Austria and Switzerland is possible.

Croatia: Tourists have been allowed to travel to Croatia since 11 May. Hotels and restaurants are normally open. Wearing a mask is not compulsory, but recommended.

Luxembourg: Luxembourg was the first neighbouring country of Germany to open its borders on 15 May. A transit as well as a stay in Luxembourg is unproblematic.

Netherlands: At the border between Germany and the Netherlands there were no border controls during the travel warning. From 1 July, all campsites and holiday parks are to be fully opened again. Holidaymakers with their own sanitary facilities in their campers can already set off now. Travellers from Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg are requested to enter a two-week quarantine.

Norway: For Norway, an entry ban will remain in effect until after June 15. Whether German tourists will be able to visit Norway this summer will be decided before July 20.

Austria: A transit through the country as well as a summer holiday will both be possible again in Austria from 15 June. Persons wishing to enter from Germany must present a medical certificate of a negative Covid-19 test not older than four days. Restaurants and hotels are open. As in Germany, masks are compulsory in shops and on public transport.

Portugal: German holidaymakers may only enter the mainland by air. However, Madeira and the Azores are still not reachable. The beaches may be used from 6 June and hotels are supposed to open for holidaymakers from mid-July.

Sweden: The hotels are open and the sea routes are open. Flights are not yet possible, but travelling by car via Denmark will not be a problem from 15 June.

Switzerland: The borders will be open from 15 June and hotels and restaurants are open since 15 May.

Slovenia: Transit and holidays in Slovenia are possible again. Hotels with less than 30 rooms are open again since 18 May. Surfing and swimming are allowed, but sunbathing on the beach is not.

Spain: Although restaurants and hotels are allowed to open their doors as of 1 June, travel to Spain will not be possible again until 21 June.

Czech Republic: Since the end of May, hotels have been open again, and the border will be open again from 15 June.

Cyprus: From 20 June the island will open for tourists. Until then restaurants, hotels and cafés will have reopened.

Non-European countries are also preparing for tourism and opening their borders. Turkey hopes to welcome guests again from mid-June. Then international flights will be allowed again. Upon arrival, holidaymakers are tested for the coronavirus. Tunisia also wants to open its borders at the end of June. A summer holiday in Thailand may soon be possible again, but only in four or five-star hotels. In some countries the infection rates are still too high to receive tourists. Entry into Russia or the USA will not be possible for the time being.

Original text: Emma Dietl. Translation: Mareike Graepel

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